The number of CEOs departures last month fell 30% to 92, compared to 132 a year ago. February's total was also slightly lower than that of January, when 96 top executives exited their posts, according to job-services firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

Whether it was a fresh startup or a fresh start, fewer Americans seemed willing to take career risks last year, according to a new report by Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The percentage of job-seekers starting their own businesses or relocating for new positions fell to historic lows in 2010.

Last month, 96 CEO changes were announced by U.S. based companies, reports job-services firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, among them the heads of Google and Advanced Micro Devices. The number is down 9% from December, but 8% higher than January 2010, when 89 CEOs left their corner offices behind.

It's hard to fathom that something as mundane as weather could affect employment statistics. But it clearly does. And it also has big impact on how much work actually gets done. And beyond the snows of winter, there's distractions like the Super Bowl that keep worker from their duties.

Private employers added 187,000 jobs in January, ADP announced Wednesday, 47,000 more then economists had predicted. That marks the fourth straight month of significant job gains -- a trend that suggests the U.S. labor market is recovering.

Will the stubbornly high unemployment rate fall at all? We'll find out whether when the January employment reports come out this week. Also worth watching for are a host of earnings reports, led by economic bellwhether UPS. The package deliverer is expected to post strong results.

Job cuts in technology fields came to just under 47,000 last year, the lowest total for the sector since 2000, according to employment-services firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Better still, during the next 10 years, the sector is forecast to experience one of the fastest paces of job creation of any industry.

A new survey by job-services firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas found the number of unemployed seeking work similar to what it found in 2009. Now, though, there's more optimism that a job will be found. Challenger agrees, but it notes the path is still long and difficult.

Though the job market remains challenging, for one group, the labor market was at its steadiest of the year last month. The number of chief executives departing their jobs fell to 79 in November, the lowest monthly number of 2010, according to job-services firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

Retailers and shipping companies are adding fewer new jobs than they did a year ago. One reason for the low number is that employers began shopping for seasonal workers earlier than usual, boosting hiring in October. If retail sales hold up, December could see more hiring.

The number of chief executive officers leaving their posts in October fell to its lowest level in 18 months, according to a new report released today. The drop seems to show that the volatile job market, at least among corporate chiefs, appears to be stabilizing.

The percentage of unemployed managers and executives relocating for new positions fell to a record low in the third quarter, according to analysis by Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The relocation rate for the last four quarters has averaged just 7.3%.

If the recession and subsequent high employment proves anything, it's this: The scarcity of jobs hasn't made workers any smarter. Just-fired CNN anchor Rick Sanchez is a good example. Unfortunately, he's hardly the only one.

A fresh batch of data show that the job market may finally have turned the corner despite last month's uptick in the national unemployment rate to 9.6%. Among them: Fewer initial claims for unemployment and a smallest monthly layoff total since June 2000.

Since the recession began, more than 8 million Americans have lost their jobs. But perhaps even more surprising is the small number of companies that are responsible for laying off such a large percentage of today's unemployed workers.

The job market got a modicum of good news today with ADP's July report that beat the expected increase of 35,000 new jobs. July marks the sixth straight month of private sector additions, but at a rather slack pace, averaging only 37,000 jobs per month.

The Great Recession had a disproportionately high impact on male unemployment. But now, the tentative recovery is driving job gains in areas like construction and financial services, helping male hiring regain lost ground -- some good news for Father's Day.

Northeastern University economist Barry Bluestone says demographics will lead to a worker shortage as boomers march inexorably toward retirement. He predicts that within the next eight years the U.S. could have at least 5 million job vacancies.

Entering February, a mixed picture on employment has developed: Job cuts in January reached their highest total since August, but still represent a 70% reduction from the same time a year ago, when they peaked at 241,749. What's going on?

Though the odds may seem daunting, job seekers shouldn't view finding new employment as an impossible goal, says workplace expert John Challenger, chief executive at employment consultancy Challenger, Gray &amp; Christmas. "The key to success is to take an active approach and make your own opportunities," he says.